Security plug closures for receptacles



Aug. 27, 1968 J- M. KATZ SECURITY PLUG CLOSURES FOR RECEPTACLES Filed June 8, 1967 INVENTOR, Jacob M.Ko1z,

ATTORNEY.

United Smtes Patent 3,398,852 SECURITY PLUG CLOSURES FOR RECEPTACLES Jacob M. Katz, 225 E. 57th St., New York, N.Y. 10022 Filed June 8, 1967, Ser. No. 644,632 Claims. (Cl. 220-39) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A knurled lid covering the mouth of the receptacle, is the head of a screw plug which is releasably threadedly engaged in a ring nut, and said plug can be screwed into the ring nut to be in tight relation therewith. The ring nut is rotatably fitted inside said receptacle, near the mouth thereof; such being its only permitted movement; the receptacle serving as its bearing. Said ring nut has a small socket in its periphery and there is a small hole through the receptacle wall. When said tight relation exists, the plug when turned, and the ring nut, will move as a unit, and said socket will come into registry with said hole. To remove the plug, the end of a strong pin is inserted into said hole, and then upon turning the plug, said pin will find said socket, thus holding the ring nut against rotation, whereupon the plug can be turned free of the ring nut. To replace the plug, it is screwed tight into the ring nut while the pin holds said nut against rotation. The receptacle, if it is to be mounted on a wall, can be secured from within its interior.

The present invention relates to plug closures for receptacles.

Soap powder dispensers in public wash rooms, granulated sugar dispensers on restaurant tables, and many other kinds of containers, have a removable closure means, which is removed from time to time, to replenish the contents. This is usually done by an attendant, who makes the rounds for such purpose.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved closure construction for receptacles generally, which is easily and conveniently removable by the attendant, but affords security against the casual or curious tamperer, who just likes to take things apart, thus avoiding waste of contents and loss or damage of equipment parts. This invention is also applicable to pots and other containers, not to be opened by the curious, but is not intended as protection against an intentional pilferer. I use no speacial lock or tool constructions, in connection with this closure means. My new closure plug will not work loose when the receptacle is mounted on walls subject to vibration, as on board ship and in factories of heavy industry.

Another object thereof is to provide a closure means of the character described, which is simple in construction, affords security against removal of the container so the device, if a dispenser or the like, is not stolen off the wall; said closure means being reasonable in cost to manufacture, and efficient in carrying out the purposes for which it is designed.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as this disclosure proceeds.

In the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, similar character of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a soap powder dispenser, the closure for whose receptacle embodies the teachings of this invention. This view is as seen from the rear, thereby showing its mounting base, adapted for attachment onto. a wall.

FIG. 2 is a section taken at line 2-2 in FIG. 1, show- 3,398,852. Patented Aug. 27, 1968 ing the article mounted on a wall. Various parts of the dispensing mechanism are omitted.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged section of the dispensing device of FIG. 1, taken at line 33 in FIG. 2. Also shown in this view is the pin used to immobilize the ring nut, so the closure plug can be removed and then reset.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the ring nut.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the ring nut retainer.

FIG. 6 is a central sectional view of the ring nut and a screw plug of modified construction.

In the drawing, the numeral 15 designates generally a dispensing device for powdered soap, whose casing, denoted generally as 16, has a closure means indicated generally by the numeral 17, for its month end. The specific casing illustrated includes a cylindrical tubular member 21, whose internal diameter is increased at its upper end to provide a seat 19 for the ring nut 18, which is rotatably fitted near said mouth end; said tubular member serving as the bearing therefor. Said ring nut is confined to said seat 19, by a retainer spring wire ring 20, held captive in the internal annular groove 20, so the rotation of said ring nut is the only movement it is permitted. Said tubular member 21 is also of increased internal diameter at its lower end, to provide a seat 19' for the bridge piece 26, held captive by the dished member 22, closing the lower end of said tubular member, which is here shown force-fitted into said tubular member for assembly therewith. If desired, their association may be by threaded engagement as is well known. Said tube 21 is integral with a mounting base 21', so it can be a length of an extrusion.

The dispensing mechanism constitutes no part of this invention, and is included merely to show one casing use. For a brief description thereof, it is to be noted that the non-circular shank 25, serving as a track rod riding vertically in the hole 26' through the bridge piece 26, terminates in an upper element 27 of strip material serving as the agitator of a powdered soap supply within the casing; such supply being omitted to attain clarity of illustration. Said track rod 25 is the upper part of a plunger 23, spring biased by compression coil spring 28, downwardly, so the central aperture in the bottom member 22 is closed valvefashion. To cause the discharge of soap powder, the plunger is reciprocated by swinging the fingers of a hand held up against the finger piece 24. I

Of importance is the closure structure comprising the said ring nut 18, in which is releas'ably threadedly engaged the screw plug 32 having the knurled plate head 31 which is atopand across the mouth of the tubular member 21; said head being still spaced a bit from the mouth rim of said tubular member when the plug is screwed tight. This tight relation can be had by having the threaded plug 32 slightly tapered, with the ring nut 18 to match, or by using the construction shown in FIG. 6, where the closure member 17' is provided with a downward skirt 36, to bear against the upper face of the ring nut 18', in which instance the screw plug 32, is standard, meaning cylindrical, and the ring nut 18' is its counterpart. The ring nut used, is provided with a small socket as shown at 34 in its periphery, and the casing wall has a small hole 33 therethrough. When the screw plug is tight with the ring nut, the plug when turned, will move with said ring nut as a unit, and the socket 34 can come into register with said hole 33.

When it is desired to remove the plug so the casing 16 can be filled, a pin 35 is inserted through said hole 33 and into said socket 34, to immobilize the ring nut 18, whereupon the closure 17 can be turned to remove it from the ring nut 18. To replace said closure, the plug 32 is screwed tight into the ring nut while the latter is held against rotation by said pin 35. When the casing, as

here shown, is one mounted on a wall 37, the hole 33, to be inconspicuous, is in back, very near the mounting base 21', in which instance the pin can be an L-s-h'ape; an Allen screw wrench being appropriate therefor.

As another safety measure, the casing may be mounted by bolts 30 inserted from within the casing, through suitable holes 29 in the casing Wall, through which the shanks of said bolts extend for threaded engagement in the expansion plug elements as 38 which are securely imbedded flush in the wall 37.

The closure structure taught herein may be used for the casings of all sorts of devices which are hung on a wall as the soap powder dispenser shown, or for articles which are not wall-mounted, as for instance the mentioned granulated sugar dispenser or incorporated as the cover lid for a pot, all of which are given as examples. Said closure structures may be automatic screw machine or lathe products.

This invention is capable of numerous forms and various applications without departing from the essential features herein disclosed. It is therefore desired and intended that the embodiments shown herein shall be deemed merely illustrative and not restrictive and that the patent shall cover all patentable novelty herein set forth; reference being had to the following claims rather than to the specific description and showning herein to indicate the scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. In a closure structure for an end of a tubular memher, a ring nut within and near the said end of the tubular member, rotatably fitted for movement about its own axis, a screw plug releasably threadedly engaged in said ring nut, and means allowing the plug a limited travel in said ring nut so that said plug is tight with said ring nut when said plug is at the end of such permitted travel; said tubular member having a relatively small opening through its wall and said ring nut having a relatively small opening; said openings being capable of being in registry when said plug and ring nut are insaid tight relation, whereupon the insertion of a pin. into both said openings whereby said ring nut is immobilized with respect to said tubular member, the plug can be turned out of said ring nut.

2. A closure structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said plug includes a head across the mouth of said tubular member; said head being spaced a bit from the mouth rim of said tubular member when the plug and ring nut are in tight relation.

3. A closure structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the means affording said limited travel, is provided by having said plug of tapered form.

4. A closure structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the means affording said limited travel is an element carried along with the plug; said element being adapted to bear against the outer face of the ring nut when said plug is entered a predetermined distance through said ring nut.

-5. A closure structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said plug includes a head across the mouth of the tubular member; said head being spaced a bit from the mouth rim of said tubular member when the plug and ring nut are in tight relation, and said means affording said limited travel being a skirt extending from said head, in spaced relation and surrounding said plug.

6. A closure structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said tubular member is in contact with the periphery of the ring nut and serves as a bearing therefor.

7. A closure structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the tubular member includes a mounting base; the opening in said tubular member being close to said base.

8. A closure structure as defined in claim 7, wherein said tubular member is provided with holes through said mounting base, opening inside said tubular member, and including headed bolts entered into said holes from within said tubular member; the shanks of said bolts extending outward of said tubular member, for engagement in a wall, whereupon said tubular member is mounted on said wall last mentioned; said tubular member being part of a casing.

9. A closure structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said tubular member is enlarged internally at its mouth region to provide a seat for said ring nut; said ring nut resting on said seat, and including a spring retainer ring holding said ring nut on said seat; said retainer ring being partially within an annular channel in said portion of the tubular member whose interior is enlarged.

10. A closure structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the opening through the Wall of the tubular member is a hole and the opening in the ring nut is a socket in its periphery.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,266,651 8/1966 Triglavcanin 2159 JAMES B. MARBERT, Primary Examiner. 

